Digit guard



Sept. 11, 1928.

' 1,684,076 J. M. SMITH DIGIT GUARD Filed June 2, 1926 IN V EN TOR.

I ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,684,076 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MORGAN'SMITH, OF CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO.

DIGIT GUARD.

Application filed June 2,.

. My invention relates to a guard for protecting injured toes or lingers, particularly during the healing thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a guard of the, class described which may be readily applied to a bandaged digit and is adjustable to lit thereabout in any desired relation thereto.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a guard of the character described, which is so adapted to the form of the digit, and may be so applied thereto, that when the injured digit is equipped with the guard, the patient may nevertheless use his hand or foot as the case may be, and thus ordinarily permit him to pursue his usual duties while the wound is healing.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a unitary device of the character described which provides for the ventilation of the injured member enclosed thereby.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the speci iication. not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in tae claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a finger guard made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side view showing a bandaged finger before the mounting of the guard thereon.

Figure 3 is a view showing the guard operatively disposed on the finger.

Figure 4 is a view showing the finger as it appears after the guard has been secured in position thereon.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a toe guard embodying my invention.

The prompt and successful healing of injured digits is, of course, contingent on the proper protection thereof during the healing process. To insure such protection, a comparatively rigid dressing must necessarily be provided, but most of-such protective dressings as have heretofore been used have been exceedingly cumbersome, with the result that when the digit has been equipped therewith, the use of the patients hand or foot is aflt is to be understood that I do 1926. Serial No. 113,114.

forded only with considerable awkwardness, and consequently the patient was forced to dispense with the practical useof the'hand or foot until it was almost or entirely healed. Further, the guards heretofore in use, by providing asubstantially impervious covering for thedigit, have lacked any provision for the necessary ventilation thereof, so that the healing process has been seriously hindered thereby. In accordancewith my in vention, however, the foregoing disadvantages are "eliminatedand a device is provided which properly protects the digit and allows of the use of thepractically unhainpered use of the hand or foot, and at the same time provides for the necessary ventilation of the digit.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the guard 7 of my invention comprises a cap portion 8, of general spherical curvature, arranged to be positioned at the end of a 1hr ger 9, and side, or tongue, portions 11 extending from the cap portion and arranged to be longitudinally disposed along the finger. As here shown, the cap and tongue portions are integrally associated, and the'guard is preferably formed of some light, thin, non-corrosive material which is slightly pliable, such as one of the softer metals. The tongues 11, it will be noted, are spaced laterally apart, so that they may, if desired, be independently bent to any desired shape to lit the underly-- ing bandaged linger, are preferably of equal width, and are here shown symmetrically disposed about the axis of the guard.

It will now be noted that to apply the guard. in dre sing an injured linger, an inner dressing portion 12 is first placed on the finger. the guard is then positioned thereon as indicated in Figure 3, the guard being shaped ver the dressing 12 as may be necessary, after which the balance 13 of the dressing is placed about the outside of the guard to bind the latter within the dressing. In this manner, a rigid unobtrusive dressing is provi-ded which truly adapts itselfto the shape and movement of the finger without undue pressurethereon and which at the same time permits the ventilation of the bandaged digit through the porous gauze usually used for bandaging and between the tongues and thus prevents injurious sweating of the digit. 7

In. Figure 5 is shown an embodiment of the device particularly shaped. for use in dressing injured toes. In this embodiment the cap portion 21 thereof is also preferably Ill) curved, While the tongues 22 extend from the cap in spaced and generally parallel relation. It Will be noted, however, that no tongues are provided at the top oft-heguard, sine-ethe toenail usually provides protection at the top of the toe, and that the tongues are relic tively shorter than those of the finger guard.

Since the guard of iny invention, as preyiously indicated, is made of comparatively thin iii'ateriahit will be obvious that the vairious tongu'es thereof maybe readily out or otherwise shaped toa da pt the device to a vafri et'y o'fsitiia tions. Thus, the toe'guard herein specifically shown and described might easilybe iorme'd by cutting-i away the appropriate parts ot the first described embodiment, thus avoiding the necessitw for a stock of variously shaped guards. Furthermore, by primarily forming the guards as shown. it Will be noted that they may be longitudinally nested together for ready transportationand storage.

'ffiro'm saiddap portion to lie longitudinally along the digit.

2. In a dressing for a digit, a stiffening meinb'er comprising a'cap portion arranged to be positioned atthe end 01": the digit to pre sent a closed end in opposed relation thereto, I

and laterally spaced tongue portions eXtending' integrally from said cap portion to lie longitudinally along the digit for flexing thereagainst. p v

In testimony whereof I have'her'eunto set my hand at Oakland, California, this 4th day of May, 1926.

JOHN MORGAN "SMITH. 

